Xiaomi Redmi K90 vs. OnePlus Nord 2T: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi Redmi K90 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset offers a significant advantage in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. However, the OnePlus Nord 2T remains a strong contender, offering a balanced experience with efficient charging and a reliable track record.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi K90 | OnePlus Nord 2T |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 23 | 2022, May 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 23 | Available. Released 2022, May 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 157.5 x 75.3 x 8 mm (6.20 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 159.1 x 73.2 x 8.2 mm (6.26 x 2.88 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1156 x 2510 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~419 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 2560Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1300 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 16, HyperOS 3 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 60mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | Auto HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, LHDC 5.0, ASHA | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 22.5W reverse wired | 80W wired, PD |
| Type | Si/C Li-Po 7100 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue, Purple | Gray Shadow, Jade Fog |
| Models | 2510DRK44C | CPH2399, CPH2401 |
| Price | About 350 EUR | € 144.39 / $ 169.99 / ₹ 31,490 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 100h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 490545 (v8) | 604467 (v9) GeekBench: 2790 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi K90
- Significantly faster processor with Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Ultra-fast 100W charging with multiple protocols
- Potential for superior display quality (pending specs)
- Potential for higher thermal output under heavy load
- Battery capacity currently unknown
OnePlus Nord 2T
- Proven reliability and software experience from OnePlus
- Efficient battery management and 80W fast charging
- Good display brightness for outdoor use
- Less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Slower charging speeds than the Redmi K90
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 2T boasts a 636 nit max brightness, a respectable figure for outdoor visibility. However, the Redmi K90’s display specifications are currently unavailable, making a direct comparison difficult. Given Xiaomi’s recent focus on high-quality displays, we anticipate a comparable or superior brightness level. Both devices feature an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. Without knowing the Redmi K90’s panel technology (LTPO or standard AMOLED), it’s hard to assess potential power savings and variable refresh rate capabilities. The Nord 2T’s display is adequate, but the K90 has the potential to offer a more visually immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details for either phone, a definitive comparison is challenging. However, the market positioning suggests the Redmi K90 may prioritize camera performance to compete with higher-end devices. The absence of specific details on the Nord 2T’s camera system suggests a focus on consistent, reliable image quality rather than groundbreaking innovation. We can assume both phones will include standard features like HDR and night mode, but the K90’s more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor) within the Snapdragon 8 Elite could offer superior image processing capabilities.
Performance
The core differentiator here is the chipset. The Xiaomi Redmi K90’s Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) is a significant leap forward compared to the OnePlus Nord 2T’s MediaTek Dimensity 1300 (6nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Oryon V2 Phoenix CPU architecture (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) promises substantially higher multi-core and single-core performance than the Dimensity 1300’s (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 + 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 + 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). The 3nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite also translates to improved thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. While the Nord 2T’s Dimensity 1300 is a capable performer, the K90 is positioned for a noticeably smoother and more responsive experience, especially in graphically intensive games.
Battery Life
Both the Redmi K90 and Nord 2T achieve an endurance rating of 100 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified for the K90). However, the charging speeds are vastly different. The Redmi K90 supports 100W wired charging with PD3.0, QC3+, and 100W PPS, enabling incredibly fast charging times. The Nord 2T’s 80W wired charging with PD is still fast, but significantly slower. The K90 also offers 22.5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Nord 2T. While both phones provide all-day battery life, the K90’s charging speed provides a substantial convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K90 if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, content creation, or demanding applications, and are willing to potentially manage slightly higher thermal output. Buy the OnePlus Nord 2T if you prioritize a refined user experience, efficient battery management, and fast charging, and prefer a more established brand with a history of software support.